Washbasins full of food and cleaning supplies were packed up and distributed to the damnificados por el huracan Jimena
Small concrete house knocked off its foundation by the storm at Fatima, a colonia of Guaymas. Photos: Margaret GadsbyI got a call a while ago from Sal Fazio. He had just crossed the border heading to Tucson. As his daughter had a bunch of clothes to send back with him for the needy, he stopped at the Aduana's to see if there would be any problems. He told me the Aduana took him into a room that was piled as high as could be with used clothing. He told Sal that they were not allowing any used clothing into the country. Mexico Mel, San Carlos
My friend Wendy is coming down from Canada in a few weeks, with a load of used clothing for the people displaced here by Hurricane Jimena. Many others have been planning to do the same when they visit here. But according to the local internet forum, used clothing won't be allowed across the border. There's concern that some of it will end up for sale at tianguis.
Wendy requested a letter from the Mexican Consulate in Vancouver which she's hoping will clear the way for her to bring down her donations, but we won't know until she tries it whether that works.
All I can suggest is to bring fewer items of clothing, pack them in a suitcase with all tags removed, don't declare them, and hope for the best. I brought a bag of baby clothes home that way yesterday. Otherwise they end up in a huge stack at the Nogales aduana's office, doing no one any good.
A report on fundraising efforts to secure everything from bedding to shovels to cleaning supplies and lime for covering animal carcasses says there will also be portable shelters set up where needed.
Meanwhile there are people who have lost everything, who were unable to save anything but their lives when their homes were destroyed. And autumn's cooler nights seem to be coming earlier this year.